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Duck attack victim hospitalized

These Muscovy ducks were captured last week in Ferry Park after an attack on a 91-year-old walker.

NICK TOMECEK

By WENDY VICTORA

Published: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 12:09 PM.

FORT WALTON BEACH — A 91-year-old man who was attacked by a Muscovy duck at a local park last week was hospitalized over the weekend, according to his daughter.

Wilmer Neumann was injured Aug. 5 when the duck flew after him as he walked down a concrete path at Ferry Park. The duck flew onto his back, but got a talon caught in his leg on the way down.

Neumann told the Daily News on Friday that he reached around and grabbed the duck by the neck, at which point it got its talon out of his leg. He said he thought he may have provoked the duck by walking too slowly.

Cheryl Neumann said they took her father to the emergency room Sunday, where he was admitted. He remained hospitalized Tuesday.

“We were concerned that his wounds were not healing at all,” Cheryl said. “They determined that he not only had an infection, but it had gone into his bloodstream.

“He’s really having a rough time,” she added.

Neumann is a World War II veteran who was a B-24 nose gunner, his daughter said. He and his family were stationed at Eglin Air Force Base three times during his Air Force career. He retired as a senior master sergeant and lives with his daughter in Fort Walton Beach.

The ducks were netted by animal control officers Friday and are at the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society. They will be released this week on a 50-acre property in Holt, which has a pond and a number of other ducks, according to Dee Thompson, director of PAWS.

Thompson said their wings have been clipped so they cannot return to Ferry Park.

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FORT WALTON BEACH — A 91-year-old man who was attacked by a Muscovy duck at a local park last week was hospitalized over the weekend, according to his daughter.

Wilmer Neumann was injured Aug. 5 when the duck flew after him as he walked down a concrete path at Ferry Park. The duck flew onto his back, but got a talon caught in his leg on the way down.

Neumann told the Daily News on Friday that he reached around and grabbed the duck by the neck, at which point it got its talon out of his leg. He said he thought he may have provoked the duck by walking too slowly.

Cheryl Neumann said they took her father to the emergency room Sunday, where he was admitted. He remained hospitalized Tuesday.

“We were concerned that his wounds were not healing at all,” Cheryl said. “They determined that he not only had an infection, but it had gone into his bloodstream.

“He’s really having a rough time,” she added.

Neumann is a World War II veteran who was a B-24 nose gunner, his daughter said. He and his family were stationed at Eglin Air Force Base three times during his Air Force career. He retired as a senior master sergeant and lives with his daughter in Fort Walton Beach.

The ducks were netted by animal control officers Friday and are at the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society. They will be released this week on a 50-acre property in Holt, which has a pond and a number of other ducks, according to Dee Thompson, director of PAWS.

Thompson said their wings have been clipped so they cannot return to Ferry Park.